Cartridge



Dec. 31 1929.

R. J. ALDEN CARTRIDGE IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

a e a. an, or an errata, massacnusar-rs Application filed Eecember 21, 1827. serial Ito. Mm?! s invention relates to small arms ammunition and more particularly to a cartridge having a rojectile consisting of a semi-soft solid, or a 'quid mass.

One object of the invention is .to provide a small arms cartridge to be used in a short barrel gun, whereby a certain degree of accuracy in the travel of the projectile is imparted thereto by reason of t e peculiar construction of the cartridge.

Another object is to provide a cartridge adapted to fire a projectile consisting of a semi-soft solid or a liquid mass and of such nature that'a person hit with same will be templorarily disabled but not permanently inure i 1 Further objects will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings of my invention in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of an empty cartridge embodying one of the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a loaded cartridge embodying further features;

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3; and

5 is a side view in elevation of my cartridge. 7

In the drawings 1 represents a cylindrical shell comprising the cartridge proper preferably made of suitable metal. The shell 1 is provided with the usual percussion cap or primer 2' at one end and packed adjacent thereto is the explosion charge 3 preferably consisting of quick burning powder or any other suitable explosive. The charge 3 is confined within the shell 1 adjacent the primer 2 by means of the usual wadding 4. Adjacent the wadding 4, I preferably insert the wadding 5 having a greater thickness at the periphery than at the center thereof or having concave sides, as shown in Fig. 3, for a purpose which will be hereafter described. The projectile 6 is next inserted and confined within the shell by the wadding 7 which is also preferably of a similar shape as the wad-.

ding 5. The inside of the shell is also provided with the rifling grooves 8 and lands 9 which extend inwardly from the discharge end of the shell preferably for a considerable distance as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The projectile 6 is wholly confined within the shell between the waddings 5 and 7 and the wall of the shell and I also provide a space 10 by an extension of the enclosing shell wall for a considerable distance beyond the pro ectile. It will thus be seen that upon firm my improved cartridge from a shortbarre wherein the cartridge occupies most of t e barrel, the shell itself serves as a rifled barrel for the projectile whereby the desired accuracy for the flight of the projectile is obtained.

In the present embodiment of my invention, the projectile 6 consists of a liquid which upon impact against a person will tem orarily disable that portion of the body hit ut not permanently injure same. To this end, I have found that a gas such as sulphur dioxide liquefied by pressure is suitable although any other semi-solid, liquid, or liquefied gas havmg the same or similarresults on a person may be used without departing from the scope 5 of my invention. 1

In the useof liquefied sulphur dioxide as a projectile, which is normally a gas but which assumes a liquid form under a pressure of 30 lbs. or so to the square inch, the mass of liquid 30 upon discharge from the cartridge will continue to remain in its liquid compact mass state for a considerable range of'flight depending upon the force of the explosive charge. The liquid will thus arrive at its 35 target as a slug so as to be capable of wounding any person hit. Upon impact, the mass scatters and spreads over a considerable portion adjacent the part hit whereby that portion of. the body is temporarily disabled or aralyzed due somewhat to the shock of the lmpact but more especially to the nature and character of the projectile. With a li uefied gas projectile such as sulphur dioxi e, the

action of the liquid gas in changing to a gaseous state practically freezes that portion of the bod with which the liquid comes in contact an thereby numbs the same causing a temporary para sis. In addition to this direct disabling e ect of a liquefied gas, as a projectile, the use of sul hur dioxide causes obnoxious fumes to be nhaled which still further incapacitates the person hit.

In employing a liquid gas as a pro ectlle, the mass of li uid being under pressure must of necessity e hermetically confined and tightly sealed within the shell. In order to insure such a positive seal, have utilized the pressure of the liquid gas ltself by reason of the s ecial shape of the waddings 5 and 7 It will seen that the pressurewithin the liquid mass 6, being greater than that on the outer concave faces of the waddings 5 and 7 tends to force the waddings outwardly whereby the outer concave gortions of the waddings tend to spread the e ges thereofagainst the shell and thus tightly seal the oint therebetween.

' It is also desirable when using liquid as a projectile to minimize disturbing eflects at its outer surface when ejected which might act to tear apart the mass from its slug for- Ination. For this purpose, it is of advantage to make the extended portion of the containing shell function as the ordinary gun barrel and to provide the desired rifiing grooves in the interior of said shell. .In this way, the usual abrupt change of surface friction upon the projectile when the projectile leaves its shell and-engages the ordinary barrel grooves is avoided. .It will also be noted that the rifling grooves of the present improved shell are extended far enough toward the base so that the projectile is engaged by said grooves when it starts on its flight and does not have to find its engagement with the rifiing grooves after leaving the shell as is the case with ordinary projectile and gun barrels. These features of improvement insure much less disturbance to my liquid projectile than would otherwise occur when it is fired;

Claims:

1. A cartridge comprising, a shell provided with a percussion cap and an explosive propelling charge, compact mass of li uid wholly confined within said shell and a apted to be ejected in an unconfined state by said charge. 2. -A cartridge comprising, a shell provided with a percussion cap and an explosive propelling charge, a projectile comprising a compact mass of liquid wholly confined within said shell and spaced from the discharge end of said shell,'said projectile adapted to be ejected in an unconfined state by said charge.

3. A cartridge comprising, a shell provided with a percussion cap and an explo- 4. In a cartridge comprising a shell pro- .comtgact mass of liqui vided with a. percussion cap and an explosive propelling charge, a projectile compris' a under pressure wllbdly con ed within said shell between masses-of waddin having concave outer surfaces, said projecti e being spaced from the discharge end of said shell and adapted to be ejected therefrom in an unconfined state.

5. A cartridge comprising a shell provided with a percussion ca and an explosive propelling charge, a projectile comprising a com pact mass of liquefied sulphur dioxide'wholly confined within said shell and being spaced from the discharge end of said shell, said projectile adapted to be ejected in an unconfined state by said charge, and rifling grooves on the inside of said shell.

6. In a cartridge comprisin a shell provided with a percussion cap and an explosive propelling charge, a projectile comprising a compact mass of liquid under pressure wholly confined Within said shell between masses of wadding having concave outer surfaces, said projectile being spaced from the discharge end of said shell and adapted to be ejected therefrom inan unconfined state, and rifling grooves on; the inside of said shell and extending to the rear of said projectile for en gagement therewith. I

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my and a projectile comprising a 

